Rep. Carl Mickens

Maddy summaryHB 301 appropriates $200,000 from the State General Fund to four specific fire departments in Winston County’s District 4 (Betheden, East Winston, High Point, and Louisville Volunteer Fire Departments) for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The funds are designated for purchasing new fire truck equipment, upgrading training facilities, adding thermal imaging cameras, or replacing outdated gear. Each department receives an equal share of $50,000 to cover these direct equipment and facility costs. This bill provides targeted financial support for operational upgrades without altering broader policy or creating new obligations.

Maddy summaryHB 302 authorizes the State of Mississippi to issue general obligation bonds to provide funding for specific road improvement projects in Noxubee County. The state would borrow money through these bonds, with repayment guaranteed by Mississippi's full faith and credit, meaning the state treasury would cover any shortfall if county funds fall short. The bond proceeds would directly assist Noxubee County in completing its road projects, including costs like construction and related expenses. The bill details the bond issuance process, repayment terms, and restrictions on how funds can be used, ensuring they are solely for the specified infrastructure work.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (not a law) commending Jamal Roberts, a Meridian, Mississippi native, for winning the 23rd season of *American Idol*. It formally congratulates him as the second Mississippian and second African-American male to win the competition, highlighting his musical achievements and roots. The resolution has no policy impact; it simply expresses the Mississippi House of Representatives' praise and will be sent to Roberts and the press. It does not affect any laws, regulations, or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 318 would automatically restore voting rights for Mississippi residents convicted of vote fraud, crimes listed in Section 241 of the state constitution, or other historically disenfranchising offenses once they complete all sentencing requirements (such as probation or fines). It directly affects people who have finished serving their sentences but were previously barred from voting. The bill amends election laws to automatically reinstate their voter registration without requiring them to apply for restoration. This change applies to all qualifying convictions without additional steps.

Maddy summaryHB 307 would amend Mississippi law to remove certain embezzlement convictions from the list of crimes excluded from expungement. Specifically, it removes embezzlement from Section 99-19-71(2)(a)(v), which previously barred these convictions from being cleared from public records. This change would allow individuals convicted of the affected embezzlement offenses to petition for expungement after meeting standard requirements, such as completing their sentence and paying fines. The bill aims to provide a clear path for eligible residents to have these non-violent financial crime convictions removed from their records.

Maddy summaryHB 319, the Fresh Start Act, prohibits Mississippi licensing authorities from requiring job applicants to disclose certain criminal history, including arrests without conviction, sealed or expunged convictions, nonviolent misdemeanors, or convictions older than three years (with exceptions for serious crimes like sexual assault or murder). It requires agencies to consider evidence of rehabilitation when evaluating license applications and to use a clear standard for denials based on criminal records. The bill also mandates that the process for challenging disqualification be available online and that denials include specific written reasons. This affects individuals seeking occupational licenses in Mississippi who have the prohibited types of criminal history.

Maddy summaryHB 306 would have prohibited public and charter schools in Mississippi from using corporal punishment (defined as physical force for discipline). It required school staff who violated this ban to be personally liable for civil damages if students suffered harm. The bill also specified that school districts would not be responsible for legal costs if staff acted outside their duties. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 543 establishes Mississippi's minimum wage at $10.00 per hour for most workers, including manual laborers and service employees. Tipped employees who regularly earn over $30 monthly in tips must receive at least $3.62 per hour, while employers must pay overtime at 1.5 times the regular rate for employees earning $455 or less weekly. The bill explicitly prohibits exempting manual laborers, police, firefighters, emergency responders, and similar workers from overtime requirements, ensuring these groups receive overtime pay regardless of salary. Employees not covered by these rules remain subject to federal minimum wage and overtime standards.

Maddy summaryHB 19 appropriates $597 million from state funds for Mississippi's Department of Health operations during fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It allocates specific sums to critical programs, including $34 million for the Trauma Care System (covering hospitals in Mississippi and select out-of-state partners), $20 million from the Tobacco Control Fund for cancer programs and school nurse initiatives, and $7 million for targeted health disparity and maternal care programs. The bill also sets strict limits on "Personal Services" funding (salaries and benefits) for 2,083 authorized positions. The legislation passed the legislature but was partially vetoed by the governor on June 19, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 22 allocates $13.55 million from general funds and $28.63 million from special funds to cover the Mississippi Department of Insurance’s expenses for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). It specifically restricts $11.21 million of these funds to "Personal Services" (salaries, wages, and fringe benefits for 131 authorized positions), prohibiting their use for promotions or salary increases for current staff. The bill mandates that "Vacancy Funding" ($619,005) can only fill unfilled positions from fiscal year 2025, not raise existing salaries, and requires the department to maintain detailed spending records. This is a routine funding measure affecting the department’s budget execution, not a policy change.